A school in Washington, D.C., reportedly recently sent a letter home recently to parents saying that its students will no longer be playing sports at the school where second lady Karen Pence teaches due to its anti-LGBTQ policies.
Jessica Donovan, the schoolmaster at the Sheridan School, a K-8 in Northwest D.C., said in a letter reviewed by Newsweek that the school made the decision to refrain from athletic competition with Immanuel Christian School in Springfield, Va., because some of its students felt unsafe visiting it.
“As we talked more, we understood that some students did not feel safe entering a school that bans LGBTQ parents, students or even families that support LGBTQ rights,” Donavan said in the letter.
{mosads}“Forcing our children to choose between an environment in which they feel unsafe or staying home was not an option. So we decided that we would invite ICS to play all of the games at Sheridan,” she continued. “Since ICS declined our offer to host, we will only play our home games and will not go to ICS to play.”
Pence came under scrutiny shortly after announcing she would be returning to the private elementary school to teach art following reports the institution prohibits LGBTQ students and faculty.
The Washington Post reported at the time that the Immanuel Christian requires potential employees to pledge that they believe marriage is between a man and a woman and that they do not engage in “homosexual or lesbian sexual activity” or “transgender identity” as part of their employment application.
A clause in the school’s parent agreement also says the school “reserves the right” to refuse admission to or discontinue enrollment of a student if their activities are “in opposition to the biblical lifestyle the school teaches.”
“This includes, but is not limited to contumacious behavior, divisive conduct, and participating in, supporting, or condoning sexual immorality, homosexual activity or bi-sexual activity, promoting such practices, or being unable to support the moral principles of the school,” the agreement states. “I acknowledge the importance of a family culture based on biblical principles and embrace biblical family values such as a healthy marriage between one man and one woman.”
Donovan said that Sheridan had not been aware of Immanuel Christian’s policies in the past.
She added that she was proud of the school’s students idea to wear socks in support of LGBTQ persons at games at Sheridan going forward.
“This is a challenging situation, and we are working through difficult and sometimes hurtful issues, but the Sheridan community’s response — and most especially that of our children — has been inspiring,” Donovan said in the letter. “Thank you for entrusting your children with us. They are making the world better every day.”